Flying WILD (Plus) Workshop for Professional Educators

Audubon Minnesota, Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory, and Duluth Audubon Society are pleased to offer this unique 2-part workshop for educators!

Flying WILD: A program for ALL educators interested in using activities about birds, migration, and conservation to encourage learning in science and many other subjects.

We find birds nearly everywhere we look and birds can be excellent barometers for the health of the environment we share with them. Bird populations track changes in habitats, water, disease, and even climate. They play important roles in the ecosystems they exist in, such as pest control, seed dispersal, and pollination! We even find birds in cultural records throughout history in visual art, music, and literature. There’s no doubt that birds are important and worth learning about and protecting no matter where you live. In this workshop, participants will explore and experience a variety of unique activities focused on birds.

Through science-based activities involving language arts, social science and math experiences, coupled with community outreach and service learning applications, Flying WILD offers a whole-school approach to environmental education using birds as the focus.

Targeted for the middle-school audience, though widely adaptable to serve grades 3rd through 12th, Flying WILD offers practical hands-on classroom and outdoor field investigation experiences connecting real-world experiences in bird biology, conservation and natural history. Project-based classroom application, service learning and community involvement are encouraged through sections of the guide dedicated to the planning and implementing of bird centric festivals.

REGISTRATION: Registering for this unique professional development opportunity will register you for a 2-part workshop, and bonus: the $25 registration fee can be applied towards an education program with Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory during spring or fall of 2020. Part 1 will take place on Saturday, November 9th, 2019 from 9am-4pm. Part 2 will take place on Saturday, March 21st, 2020. You will receive full details and emailed reminders for part 1 and part 2 after completing this registration.

Each participant will receive a copy of the Flying WILD: An Educator’s Guide to Celebrating Birds curriculum book as well as a complete activity kit from one of the workshop activities to use in their teaching environments. Light refreshments will be provided in addition to a boxed lunch. Participants will earn professional development credit hours for completing this 2-part workshop.

Workshop activities include:

Guided and free-time exploration of a variety of curriculum guides and resources

Field trips to one or two local birding hotspots, such as Hawk Ridge.

Flying WILD based classroom experiments, volunteer-led activities, and games (indoors and outdoors)

WHO SHOULD TAKE THE TRAINING? The Flying WILD program is aimed at ALL educators who are interested in using hands-on activities about birds and bird conservation to encourage learning in science and many other subjects. This cross-curricular program has science as its core, but connects to language art, social science, math, physical education, and art. Flying WILD activities are correlated to the National Science Standards. Middle school age students are the focus of Flying WILD, but activities can easily be adapted to higher or lower grades. While the program is aimed at the formal school system, youth groups such as scouts, 4-H programs, nature centers and others can also use Flying WILD effectively for a fun and engaging learning experience.

Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative‐Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). The Trust Fund is a permanent fund constitutionally established by the citizens of Minnesota to assist in the protection, conservation, preservation, and enhancement of the state’s air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources.